The Hockey Star’s Remorse

Chapter 22

After getting back to the apartment, I’d barely set down my things before my phone began to ring. I groaned, not having the patience for any human interaction. It didn’t help that the plane ride home had left me exhausted.

With a sigh, I grabbed it from out of my bag. I barely registered the name on the screen before I thoughtlessly picked up the call.

“Hello?” I said, dropping my keys on the counter. I hurried over to the kitchen and opened the fridge. “This is Evie.”

“Hi, Evie,” Timothy’s voice came through and I nearly dropped the bottle of fruit juice I had grabbed.

I placed the container on the counter and cleared my throat. “Timothy. Hi.”

“Sorry, this is sudden. Considering I just saw you,” he said with a laugh. “I was wondering if you had time this week to discuss the case a bit further?”

“Of course.” I grabbed a glass from the pantry and filled it up with the juice. “Just give me a time, and I’ll likely be free.””

He hummed thoughtfully. “Tonight at four sound good? At the firm?”

“Sounds perfect.” I took a sip of my juice and cringed at how squeaky my voice had sounded.

“Great,” he said, then there was a pause. It seemed neither of us was ready to hang up, at least immediately.

Finally, I spoke up, taking advantage of the silence. “Thank you, by the way.”

“Hm?”

“For yesterday. With my panic attack…you helped a lot.”

I couldn’t see his face, but I could envision the smile that he had grown just based on his tone. “It was no problem,” he said gently.

My grip tightened on my phone and I pressed it closer to my ear. “I’ll talk to you later.”

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Chapter 22

rest of your day,” he

my knees. to my chin. I had just taken my anxiety pills, but talking to Timothy

Bruce flashed across the screen. I opened

nice for now, but

body went cold as those pixelated words sat on my screen. There had been several others he sent before

lovely

I start calling you? I’m not into making calls, bad reception and all, but it’d be nice

Coco. I’m

screen. Part of me wanted to respond and tell him to back off, but the other saw an even worse reaction from him if

that way.

chest, steadying my breaths as they grew shallower. Even from afar, Bruce managed to make me feel disgusted with myself. Wherever he was, darkness followed in his

consume me, with every twisted

delete the text, there was a harsh knock at my door. The sound alone. made me jump and

I hauled myself up and made my way over to the front

on the other side. There

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Chapter 22

being blinded by

stumbled backward, barely catching myself on the wall. It takes a few blinks before the man is clear again, this time with a

man asked, scratching the stubble under his chin. He had a camera dangling from his neck and a notebook tucked under his arm. “We received a tip about an Evie

an ‘Evie‘

We’ve been looking around trying to find her, but some guy was generous enough to clue us in,” the guy

to spin, having all those eyes watching me from

grass and blankets strewn about. They had even set up a small campfire where two reporters were roasting

camping here?”

know all about you, Evie. There’s not way that other news station’s going to get the scoop before we do!” He lifted his camera and snapped another picture, then grinned

people can’t be serious!” I cried out.

man leaned toward me, his camera now trained on my face like. an invasive

press was fierce when it came to a good story, but this was next level in terms of desperation. How would I even explain

Any distraction was welcome, whether it was cleaning or folding laundry. The time eventually came for me to head over to

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Chapter 22